P A S S O V E R    &    M E S S I A H
  YESHUA-J E S U S

pesach

Pesach      The story of the Egyptian Passover is found in Exodus   12.
The student of the Scriptures should not let the familiarity of this passage
keep him or her from continuing to study it over and over again.

   Passover, a Sacrifice. The Passover was a sacrifice. Modern theologians dispute this but without any basis. It was an unusual sacrifice. In many respects, it differed from the later sacrifices of the Law, but in some aspects it was similar to what later became the sin offering, combined with the peace offering. It is very important to realize its sacrificial aspect.

   The proofs of its sacrificial characteristics are clear and abundant. The details of the selection of the lamb, "year old males without defect" (Exodus 12:5), the method of sprinkling the blood with hyssop (Exodus 12:22), and the disposal of the remains of the meal (Exodus 12:10), all testify to its sacrificial character. ln fact, Moses himself says, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord" (Exodus 12:27).

   The purpose of this sacrifice was that the blood of the Passover lamb would be sprinkled on the doorposts and the lintels of the Jewish homes, so that the homes would be protected from the destroying angel. It is impossible for any theologian who takes the Scriptures seriously to come to any other conclusion. Exodus 12:13 says, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."

   Whether or not one believes in the doctrine of substitution, an objective reader of Exodus 12 must admit that the doctrine is there. The lamb without blemish was carefully chosen and kept four days. Then the head of the family, Who was the representative, slew the lamb. When he sprinkled the blood of the lamb upon the doorposts and lintels, he confessed that the family stood inperil of the death angel. He and his family accepted God's means of safety. The result was that heand his family were delivered from bondage.

   In other words, the Passover is a gospel before the gospel. The Passover was not only a sacrifice, it was a festive meal. It later became the basis of what is known in the Law as the "peace offering." The peace offering was not an offering for peace; it was a meal eaten together by people who were at peace with one another. Later, in the temple days, the peace offering was shared with the priests, who represented God, and the offerer. It became a feast between God and man.

   The peace offering always followed the sin offering. It is a picture of our fellowship with our Lord. All of this is typified by the peaceful fellowship which the one who partakes of thePassover meal experiences. "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, & the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from every sin"(1 John 1:7).

   The Passover feast looked forward to "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of theworld" (John 1:29). "Christ, our Passover lamb, [who] has been sacrificed" (I Corinthians 5:1), becomes "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. l:27).

     Passover, a Commemoration All over the world, the   Egyptian Passover is remembered each year in Jewish homes. "This is a day   you are to commernorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate  it as a festival to the Lord.....a lasting ordinance" (Exodus 12:14). It was celebrated for the first time before deliverance was accomplished. A new calendar was reckoned from it. "This month is to be for you the first month" (Exodus 12:2). The month of the Exodus, from then on, would be the first of the year.

   The Passover, a sacrifice; the Passover, a feast; the Passover, a memorial; all became the Passover, a prophecy. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:l). For us, the past is crowned with His sacrifice. For us, we have fed on the bread of God, and we now live in communion with Him. For us, the memorial of deliverance is celebrated at His table. Here we now eat of the sacrifice as God spoke to the Israelites, "with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand" (Exodus .12:11).

We look forward, by His grace, to the time when we all eat with Him in His kingdom.
The past, the present, and the future are filled with our Passover Lamb.
P R A I S E G O D !

  For further information contact: 

hebrew mm
-MENORAH MINISTRIES -
P.O. Box 460024
Glendale, CO 80246-0024
Voice: 303-355-2009 Fax: 303-355-6901
E-mail: menorah@menorah.org
Internet Page: http://www.menorah.org

To return to Truth vs Error Page

To return to Biblical Feasts Page

To return to MENORAH'S Home Page